Will Cleopatra’s tomb soon be discovered?

Famous for her intelligence, her political strategies and her irresistible beauty, Cleopatra is the last and most famous of the queens of Egypt. Her people considered her the human embodiment of Isis – the goddess of healing and magic. According to legend, she committed suicide by being bitten by a poisonous snake, in order to avoid being captured by Rome.

Of all the mysteries surrounding him, the greatest is probably the location of his tomb. Many archaeologists and historians have tried to find it, but as Discover Magazine explainsno one succeeded.

Because of her position and her history, between love – she charmed Julius Caesar and Marc Antony, the two most powerful men in Rome at the time –, wealth and power, there is surely no no one else to achieve such a level of intrigue.

Yet, despite its importance, no one knows the location of his tomb. According to legend, she would be buried with Marc Antoine. Whoever discovered Cleopatra’s tomb would then also find that of her lover.

Most archaeologists believe it to be in ancient Alexandria. Which means it would be underwater today – much of the ancient city lies beneath the Mediterranean. “Even if [le tombeau] has not been touched by humans, earthquakes and the sea have probably swallowed it up. His palace and his mausoleum are surely under water,” suggests Robert Gurval, professor emeritus of classics at the University of California.

The quest continues

Some, however, do not lose hope and continue the quest. Kathleen Martinez, archaeologist, has made it her mission. Considering historical clues – Cleopatra would surely have been buried in a temple of Isis – Martinez thinks that her tomb is not in Alexandria. Instead, she leans towards the Temple of Isis at Taposiris Magna, about forty-five minutes from Alexandria.

The legend says that Cleopatra wanted to be buried with Marc Antoine to reconstruct the myth of Osiris and Isis. Since Osiris would grant immortality after death, the gods would offer a form of eternal life to the two lovers.

Thanks to new technologies, such as georadar, satellite imagery or remote sensing, Martinez has already made discoveries on the site. Since 2009, his excavations have yielded a number of relics: mummies, statues, pottery and other artifacts. She also discovered a tunnel almost 2 meters high and about 1.3 kilometers long, 13 meters deep under the temple.

The archaeologist has not yet found the burial of Cleopatra, but the search continues to offer new clues. One thing is certain: the discovery of the tomb of one of the most famous women in history will not go unnoticed.